XN000022-1976-02-25 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1976

GROWING EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY SERVICES

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THERE WAS A GROWING EMPHASIS ON SPENDING ON COMMUNITY SERVICES, PARTICULARLY WATER, CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT AND ROADS BETWEEN 1970-71 AND 1974-75, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. HE WAS REVIEWING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE TRENDS DURING THE FIRST FIVE FINANCIAL YEARS OF THIS DECADE.

HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THE TRENDS DID NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING PRIORITIES DURING THAT PERIOD, BUT RATHER THE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS DECISIONS.+

DURING THIS PERIOD, THE PLOVER COVE SCHEME WAS COMPLETED, THE DAMS WERE LATER RAISED, WORK ON THE HIGH ISLAND SCHEME AND THE DESALTER WAS BEGUN, 772 ACRES OF LAND WERE CREATED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND 50 MILES OF MOTOR ROADS AND 15 FLYOVERS WERE BUILT.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY LISTED THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN BUILDING UP THE POLICE FORCE, SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES, ENROLMENT AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE NEW POLYTECHNIC AND THE UNIVERSITIES. HOSPITAL FACILITIES INCLUDING NEW HOSPITALS, PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE NEW TOWNS.

+FINALLY, THERE IS THE DRAMATIC STORY OF SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS AND THE NEW FOUND EMPHASIS ON CASH ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN FAMILY INCOMES AND TO ASSIST THE DISABLED AND INFIRM,+ HE SAID.

+THE TOTAL COST OF ALL FORMS OF ASSISTANCE INCREASED FROM $5.4 MILLION TO $166 MILLION.+

DESPITE THIS EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE SPENDING ON WHICH INCREASED FROM 19 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1970- 71 TO 28 PER CENT IN 1974-75, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE LAW AND ORDER GROUP OF SERVICES TO MAINTAIN ITS 1970-71 SHARE OF WELL OVER NINE PER CENT DURING THIS PERIOD AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES GROUP COULD BE ALLOCATED 39 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN BOTH 1970-71 AND 1974-75.

THIS COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE GROWTH OF EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL SERVICES AND ON ECONOMIC SERVICES WAS KEPT WELL BELOW THE GROWTH OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE, DECLINING FROM 20 PER CENT OF THE SHARE TO 14 PER CENT OVER THE PERIOD.

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